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  • ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ – the scenic way to travel between Oslo & Bergen

    ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ – the scenic way to travel between Oslo & Bergen

    May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

    How to do the classic ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ itinerary – a spectacular journey between Oslo and Bergen by train, boat and bus, taking in mountains, fjords and waterfalls…

  • 1 Hotel Copenhagen: a nature-inspired city sanctuary

    1 Hotel Copenhagen: a nature-inspired city sanctuary

    April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

    Decorated in tone-on-tone neutrals and tactile natural materials, 1 Hotel Copenhagen is a calm city sanctuary in the heart of the Danish capital…

  • Stylish countryside hotels & pubs for cosy getaways in the West Country & Cotswolds

    Stylish countryside hotels & pubs for cosy getaways in the West Country & Cotswolds

    March 13, 2026March 13, 2026

    Ten stylish rural places to stay in the West Country and Cotswolds, all with cosy rustic-minimalist interiors, delicious food and lots of character…

  • Vipp’s latest guesthouse: a minimalist mountain retreat in Austria

    Vipp’s latest guesthouse: a minimalist mountain retreat in Austria

    February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

    Set high in the Austrian Alps, Vipp’s latest bookable guesthouse combines pared-back Scandinavian style with plenty of local character…

  • Vipp Lofoten – a minimalist hideaway in Norway’s far north

    Vipp Lofoten – a minimalist hideaway in Norway’s far north

    October 28, 2025January 23, 2026

    Vipp’s latest guesthouse blends minimalist Scandinavian design with a stunning setting in Norway’s remote Lofoten Islands…

  • An autumn break in the Forest of Dean

    An autumn break in the Forest of Dean

    October 23, 2025January 23, 2026

    Autumn walks, stunning foliage, seasonal activities and cosy relaxation at Tudor Farmhouse Hotel in the Forest of Dean…

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[AD - paid partnership] One of the biggest challen [AD - paid partnership] One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced since downsizing to our little cottage is the lack of storage. Though it was far from large, our previous house had plenty of built-in cupboards, but our new home is somewhat lacking in that department. So, in a bid to keep things calm and organised, we’ve been searching for freestanding units that are practical, durable and pretty to look at. The reed-fronted 'Fern Peek' display cabinet from British company @bisley_shop fits the bill perfectly, and it's incredibly versatile – to the extent that I've found multiple uses for it around our home and can't make up my mind where it should sit permanently! How would you use it...? #neutralhome #simpleinterior #myminimalisthome #myneutralhome #modernrusticdecor
[AD – paid partnership] All homes have awkward spa [AD – paid partnership] All homes have awkward spaces that are tricky to deal with, and our little 200-year-old cottage certainly has plenty! So, I was very pleased to discover @atelierprintworks, which specialises in horizontal and vertical wall art for those difficult areas where standard proportions don't fit. There are plenty of calming, abstract artworks that match our rustic-minimalist décor, and I chose two options that feed into my love of bringing nature indoors: a vertical oil painting of a foggy landscape in dark, moody tones, and a horizontal rendering of a horizon in soft beige and white. The vertical artwork now sits in a narrow alcove in our living room, adding balance and structure without fighting for attention. I love its ethereal atmosphere, and the way the various browns pick out the pieces around it. I also tried it out in the bedroom, where there’s a plain stretch of wall between a window and the fitted wardrobes. I’ve always thought it looks a little bare yet standard-format artworks seem to float aimlessly in the space, so this is a great solution. This horizontal print will eventually sit above our TV, but that side of the living room isn’t yet finished so in the meantime I’ve hung it above our bed. It creates a beautiful focal point yet it’s also wonderfully calm – just what you need in a room dedicated to rest and relaxation. What do you think? And what awkward spaces do you have to deal with in your home? #minimalistdecor #rusticminimalism #wallart #smallspacedecor #cottagerenovation
A heatwave combined with fibromyalgia and the peri A heatwave combined with fibromyalgia and the perimenopause isn't exactly fun... Along with iced coffee, here are four tried-and-tested things that are getting me through the soaring temperatures in the UK this week: 1. Temperature-regulating bamboo bed linen from @laud_sleep. It's super-soft, easy to care for and it really does keep me cooler on hot, sticky nights. 2. The @duux ' Whisper Flex' fan, which is quiet and energy-efficient yet very effective. It can be adapted to sit on the floor or a table, and it has a remote control. It's also portable and rechargeable, so you can use it in areas without a nearby plug socket. 3. 'Birch Water & Neroli' cooling facial mist from @findubiety, which I take with me everywhere during summer. It smells and feels wonderful, and all profits go to support my local hospice charity @dorothyhousehc. 4. My traditional Spanish fan, which I've had since I lived in Spain in my early 20s. It's now very tatty and missing a few rungs, but it still does the job. I sometimes get strange looks when I whip it out on the bus in the UK, but it works so I really don't care! For full disclosure, I've worked with Duux and Laud in the past, but this isn't a paid or sponsored post and I haven't been asked to share it. These are items that I use myself on a daily basis in weather like this, and I thought other people might find them helpful, too. #heatwave #uksummer #summermood #simplehomestyle #seasonalliving
They say the journey is as important as the destin They say the journey is as important as the destination, and that's certainly true of my trip to Bergen in Norway with my friend Becky earlier this month. Rather than fly straight there, we decided to use it as an opportunity to do something that's been on my bucket list for a while - a classic itinerary dubbed 'Norway in a Nutshell', which goes from Oslo to Bergen by public train, boat and bus (including two of the most scenic railways in the world). It was a spectacular experience encompassing mountains, plateaus, fjords, lakes and waterfalls, taking us from spring to winter and back again. Here's a taster from the many photos I took along the way, but there's much more on the blog - including tips on how to book tickets, where to sit on the trains for the best views, and where to stay overnight if you have more time than we did and want to split it over more than one day. It's a journey that will linger in my memory for a long time, and one I'm very glad I got to do. #visitnorway #norwayinanutshell #fjords #divineworldplaces #postcardplaces
More kitchen progress! The cabinet that sits on to More kitchen progress! The cabinet that sits on top of the worktop (which hides the boiler and some storage) is now finished, and the perfect little freestanding island unit has arrived (I wanted something quite gnarled and rustic to contrast with the pale units). We're just waiting for the window blind to arrive and for the electrician to come out and install the pendant light, and the whole room will be done. Scroll through to see a 'before' shot - it's a big change! #cottagerenovation #minimalistkitchen #shakerkitchen #neutralkitchens #simpleinterior

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